Tidbits from the 1968 Manatee County Concept Development Plan
- In 1968, the connection of I-75 between Tampa to Naples was proposed.
- 1967 population was estimated at 95,500.
- An important industrial development sought was “planned industrial parks”. Such facilities would help generate interest in the county and help recruitment of conventional industry and the newer, space-age research firms.
- Port Manatee in the advanced planning stages.
- A significant block of land oriented to tourism was recommended for the area surrounding Palma Sola Bay and overlooking Sarasota Bay. The tourism commercial area would extend to the large point of land between the Manatee River and Tampa Bay and tie into Desoto Park.
- “Tourist Commercial” areas in the suburban area should be located at the proposed interchanges of I-75, if and when it is built.
- One reason for locating the suburban area next to the more densely developed urban services area was to provide a base which could provide “back up” services to the less developed suburban development. The suburban area, to be economical, should not be permitted to “leap” over undeveloped areas.
- Land not needed within the planning period to1980 has been designated as “land reserve”. Land reserve would be those areas used for agricultural, grazing, forest farming, estate and non-urban uses which require very minimum public services.
Recommended Roadway Improvements:
- Extension of Ellenton-Gillette Road to include a river crossing to the south.
- Relocate US 301 - limited to the area south of Bradenton - which would provide a boundary to the urban development areas of the County.
- Improve and extend Safford Road (Hillsborough County) south to connect to SR 64 and continue to Waterbury Road.
- Improve SR 70 to connect the western part of the County with Myakka State Park
- The Everglades Expressway – an extension of I-75 from Tampa, as a toll road, south on an interior route location.
- Extension of SR 62, west of US 301 in Parrish – tie Parrish via Erie Road to Rubonia and to the Sunshine Skyway.
- Extension of SR 39 (Duette Road) along the eastern edge of the County to provide a north-south connection and permit easier access to Myakka River State Park.